Carton with web lock

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to foldable cartons wherein adjacent walls thereof are joined together by a folded web. In order that the carton may be retained in an erected condition, there has been provided a web lock which will lock the adjacent corners together in a rigid corner forming relation. The web lock includes a notch or opening in one of the walls adjacent the corner and a projection on the other of the walls extending into the notch and locking the walls against folding relative to one another.

United States Patent Manizza [45] Apr. 11, 1972 [54] CARTON WITH WEBLOCK 3,008,626 11/1961 Lawrence ..229/35 [72] Inventor: Guelfo A.Manizza, Blauvett, N.Y. xzgggx [73] Assignee: Continental Can Company,Inc., New

York, NY Primary ExaminerJoseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner--Steven E.Li man 2 a; 19 P [2 1 He June 69 Attorney-Diner, Brown, Ramik and Holt[21] App1.No.: 833,979

[57] ABSTRACT 1521 -229/31R This disclosure relates to foldable cartonswherein adjacent 1 1 3 Cl -B65d 5/24 walls thereof are joined togetherby a folded web. In order that [58] Fleltl ofsearch ..229/31, 32, 35 thecanon may be retained in an erected condition there has been provided aweb lock which will lock the adjacent corners [56] References C'tedtogether in a rigid corner forming relation. The web lock in- UNITEDSTATES PATENTS cludes a notch or opening in one of the walls adjacentthe corner and a pro ectlon on the other of the walls extendmg into thenotch and locking the walls against relatlye to 1,985,778 12/1934H1mes..... ....229/31 one anothen 2,732,120 1/1956 Glazer ..229/312,909,105 10/1959 Lawrence ..229/31 13 Claims, 6 Drawing FiguresPatented April 11, 1972 3,655,115

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVNTUR GUELFU A. MQMZZ/A Patented April 11, 1-972 2Sheets-Sheet 2 MIVENTGR GUELFD Ami MAmzzA Y j wm( 47' TURNE Y5 Thisinvention relates in general to new and useful improvements in foldablecartons, and more particularly to a web lock for a foldable carton.

It is well known to provide cartons which are shippable in a folded flatcondition and which are erected by merely pulling apart the upstandingwalls thereof. Such cartons customarily have a web joining together theadjacent walls at the comers of the carton. While such cartons have manydesirable attributes, they are deficient in that the cartons have acontinued tendency to fold back up while they are being filled.

In accordance with this invention, it is proposed to provide a lock at afoldable carton corner so as to lock the adjacent walls thereof in comerforming relation so that the carton will remain open during filling. Aprimary feature of the web lock formed in accordance with this inventionis the provision of a notch in a free edge of one of the walls adjacentthe comer and to have a projecting portion of the other of the wallsextend into the notch to provide the desired lock.

Another feature of this invention is to provide in a foldable cartonhaving a foldable web at the corner thereof formed between two adjacentwalls a lock structure, the lock structure including a notch formed in afree edge portion of one of the walls adjacent the corner and thefoldable web functioning to draw the notched portion of the one walltowards the edge of the other wall with a portion of the other wallprojecting into the notch.

A principal feature of this invention is the formation of the foldableweb whereby the foldable web is connected to one of the associated wallsalong a fold line disposed at an angle to the normal corner formedbetween the two adjacent walls whereby when the carton is erected, thefoldable web serves to pull the one wall towards the adjacent edge ofthe adjacent wall, and wherein the one wall has an opening thereinthrough which a portion of the outer wall will project to form aninterlock.

Another feature of this invention is to so construct the edge portion ofthe wall which is to project into the notch with cut and fold line meansto facilitate the deformation thereof whereby projection of the edgeportion of the wall into the notch may be readily effected.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable carton formed in accordancewith this invention and shows the foldable webs at the two front cornersof the bottom half thereof locked together so as to maintain the bottomhalf of the carton in an erected condition.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a comer portion of ablank for forming the carton of FIG. 1 and shows the specific details ofconstruction thereof for effecting the formation of the web lock.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the frontportion of the bottom of the carton of FIG. 1 and shows specifically thedetails of the web lock thereof.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the comer and weblock of FIG. 3 as viewed from the interior of the carton FIG. 5 is afragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3and shows further the details of the web lock.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view along the line6-6 and shows specifically the sloping relation of the front wall of thecarton bottom half.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in FIG. 1 a foldable carton, which is generally identifiedby the numeral 10. The foldable carton 10, except for the specificdetails of the web lock, which is the subject of this invention, is aconventional carton. The carton 10 is of a one-piece construction andincludes a bottom half, generally identified by the numeral 11, and aclosure, which is generally identified by the numeral 12.

Basically, the bottom half 11 includes a bottom panel 13 I havinghingedly connected thereto and projecting upwardly therefrom a frontwall 14, a rear wall 15, and end walls 16 and 17. In order to facilitatethe sealing of the comers of the bottom half 11 and also the immediateerection of the carton from its folded condition to its erectedcondition of FIG. 1, at each of the four corners of the bottom half 11there is a folded web. Between the front wall 14 and the end wall 16there is a folded web 18. A like folded web 19 is disposed between thefront wall 14 and the end wall 17. Similar folded webs 20 and 21 aredisposed between the rear wall 15 and the end walls 16 and 17,respectively.

The closure 12 is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the rear wall15 and includes a top wall 22 which is connected to the rear wall 15along a fold line 23. The top wall 22 has hingedly connected to theouter edges thereof a front wall 24 and a pair of side walls 25 and 26.The side walls 25 and 26 are connected to the front wall 24 by flaps 27and 28 which are preferably glued to the inner surface of the front wall24.

In order to facilitate the folding of the closure 12 to a flatcondition, the side walls 25 and 26 are provided with diagonal foldlines 29 and 30, respectively.

It is also to be noted that the top edge of the front wall 14 isprovided with a flap 31. The flap 31 is intended to interlock with theflaps 27 and 28 to retain the closure 12 in a carton closing position.

The aforegoing described carton structure is conventional and thisinvention relates to the modification of the foldable webs l8 and 19 andthe provision of web locks, as at 32 and 33. Since these web locks areidentical, except for being left hand and right hand portions of thecarton, only the web lock 33 will be described in detail hereinafter.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 wherein there is illustrated the blankfrom which the carton 10 is formed, the blank being generally identifiedby the numeral 35. It is to be understood that only the corner portionof the blank, which is of a onepiece construction, is shown and that theillustrated corner portion is that for forming the corner between thewalls 14 and 17. The bottom wall or panel 13 has hingedly connectedthereto along one edge thereof a first wall panel in the form of thewall 14 along a first fold line 36. The panel 13 also has securedthereto for hinging movement along an adjacent edge thereof a secondwall panel in the form of the wall 17 along a second fold line 37. Thefoldable web 19 is connected to the wall 14 along a third fold line 38.The foldable web 19 is also connected to the wall 17 along a fourth foldline 40.

It is to be noted that the fold line 38 is a direct continuation of thefold line 37. On the other hand, the foldable web 19 has been modifiedso that its angular relation to the wall 17 has been formed by havingthe fold line 40 extend as a continuation of the fold line 36, but inangular relation thereto. The fold line 40 is disposed at an angle 41 tothe extension of the fold line 36. This angular relationship is animportant feature of the invention.

It is also to be noted that the carton blank 35 differs from thecustomary carton blank in that the fold line 38 does not extend entirelyto the edge of the wall 14, but terminates in a generally L-shaped cutline 42 which will define a notch or opening 43 in the erected carton,as is best shown in FIG. 5.

The foldable web 19 is provided with a diagonal fold line 44 whichextends from the comer of the panel 13 diagonally outwardly therefrom.The fold line 44 is disposed at an angle 45 from the fold line 38 and ata different and greater angle 46 from the fold line 40. For example, theangle 45 may be a 45 angle whereas the angle 46 may be a 46 /2 angle.This, of course, would make the angle 41 a l /2 angle.

It is further to be noted that the blank 35 is provided with a cut line47 which extends generally parallel to the fold line 37 and which isformed in the wall 17 and the foldable web 19,

the cut line 47 extending across the fold line 40. In addition,converging fold lines 48 and 50 are formed in the foldable web 19 andthe wall 17, respectively, the fold lines 48 and 50 extending from theopposite ends of the cut line 17 and projecting generally towards thepanel 13.

In order to better describe the corner construction, the half of thefoldable web 19 which is secured to the front wall 14 is identified bythe numeral 51 whereas the other half thereof, which half is connectedto the side wall 17 is identified by the numeral 52. The web half 52 isfolded into overlying relation with respect to the wall 17 while thewall 17 overlies the panel 13 and is adhesively bonded thereto as at 53,as is shown in FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 6, inclusive, it will be seen thatthere is illustrated the details of the front left-hand corner of thecarton bottom half 11. When the carton is erected, the walls 14, l5, l6and 17 of the carton bottom half 11 are folded outwardly from theiroverlying relation relative to the panel 13 to generally uprightpositions. As a result, the web half 51, which underlies the wall 14 inthe folded condition of the carton l0, swings about the diagonal hingeline 44 to a position alongside the web half 52, as is clearly shown inFIG. 5. As the web half 51 is pulled into its position of FIG. 5 by theweb half 52, it, in turn, draws the wall 14 rearwardly. In view of theangular relationship of the fold line 40 with respect to the extensionof the fold line 36, the front wall 14 is drawn rearwardly to anupwardly and rearwardly sloping position, as

is clearly shown in FIG. 6. At this time, the folded upper portions ofthe wall 17 and the web half 52 project through the notch 43 in themanner clearly shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

It will be readily apparent from FIG. 6 that the upper portion of thewall 17 and the web half 52 cannot project through the notch 43 unlessthere is a deflection of the lower part of the edge portions of the wall17 and the web half 52. However, because of the out line 47 and the foldlines 48 and 50, intermediate portions of the forward edge of the wall17 and the web half 52 are free to be deformed by engagement with thewall 14, as is clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The deformed portions ofthe wall 17 and the web half 52 are identified by the numeral 60.

It will be readily apparent that once the web locks 32 and 33 areformed, the side walls 16 and 17 are locked against inward foldingmovement towards overlying positions with respect to the bottom wall 13.Since the side walls 16 and 17 must fold first, the front wall 14 cannotfold rearwardly. In a like manner, the rear wall 15 cannot foldforwardly, and accordingly, the bottom half 11 of the carton 10 remainserected when released.

It will also be readily apparent that the web locks 32 and 33 areautomatically actuated when the bottom half 11 is erected in that whenthe side walls 16 and 17 are pulled to their upstanding positions, asdescribed above, the web halves 51 draw the front wall 14 rearwardly andthere is a snap interlock between the respective portions of the walls14, 16 and 17. Therefore, the web lock is not only effective, when inits operative position, to hold the carton bottom half 11 open, but isautomatically actuated during the erection of the carton.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the carton construction has beenspecifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understoodthat minor variations may be made in the carton construction withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention,

Iclaim:

1. In a foldable carton having adjacent walls thereof defining a comerand being joined together by a folded web reversely folded upon itselfand directly integrally connected to each of said walls along arespective fold line, a web lock in said corner for locking said web ina folded state with said adjacent walls being retained in a cornerforming relation, and said web lock includes an opening in one of saidwalls and a portion of the other of said walls is positioned in saidopening.

2. The foldable carton of claim 1 wherein said folded web draws theopening bearing portion of said one wall towards said other wall toretain said other wall portion in said openmg.

3. The foldable carton of claim 1 wherein said folded web is foldedalongside the other of said walls, and said web look further includeshingedly joined together portions of said other wall and said folded webpositioned in said opening.

4. The foldable carton of claim 1 wherein said folded web is foldedalongside the other of said walls, and said web lock further includeshingedly joined together portions of said other wall and said folded webpositioned in said opening, said folded web drawing the opening bearingportion of said one wall towards said other wall to retain said otherwall portion in said opening.

5. The foldable carton of claim 1 wherein said walls are hinged to acommon panel and have free edges remote from said panel, and said weblock is in the form of a notch in said one wall adjacent its free edgeat said corner, said one wall slopes from said panel to said free edgegenerally towards the adjacent edge of said other wall, and said portionof said other wall projecting into said notch is adjacent its free edge.

6. The foldable carton of claim 5 wherein the edge portion of said otherwall between said edge portion projecting into said notch and said panelis deformed by engagement thereof with said one wall.

7. The foldable carton of claim 6 wherein deformation of said deformededge portion is facilitated by a out line and a fold line formed in saidother wall.

8. In a foldable carton having adjacent walls thereof defining a cornerand being joined together by a folded web, a web lock in said corner forlocking said web in a folded state with said adjacent walls beingretained in a comer forming relation, said walls being hinged to acommon panel and having free edges remote from said panel, and said weblock including a notch in one of said walls adjacent its free edge atsaid corner, said one wall sloping from said panel to said free edgegenerally towards the adjacent edge of the other of said walls, saidfolded web being disposed alongside said other wall, and joined togetheredge portions of said other wall and said folded web adjacent the freeedge of said other wall projecting into said notch.

9. The foldable carton of claim 8 wherein the joined together edgeportions of said other wall and said folded web between said edgeportions projecting into said notch and said panel are deformed byengagement thereof with said one wall.

10. The foldable carton of claim 9 wherein deformation of said deformededge portions is facilitated by cut lines and fold lines formed in saidother wall and said folded web,

11. In a blank for a foldable carton, a foldable comer forming portionincluding a panel, first and second wall panels connected to said panelalong adjacent edges thereof along first and second fold lines, and afoldable web disposed at a corner of said panel and connected toadjacent edges of said first and second wall panels along third andfourth fold lines, a diagonal fold line in said foldable web extendingfrom said panel corner, said third fold line being a direct continuationof said second fold line, said fourth fold line being an angledextension of said first fold line and sloping towards said second panelto form projecting folded edge portions on said foldable web and saidsecond wall panel when said blank is folded to form a carton, and saidthird fold line terminating in a cut line defining notch means in saidfirst wall panel for receiving the projecting folded edge portions.

12. The carton blank of claim 11 wherein a cut line is formed in saidfoldable web and said second wall panel generally parallel to saidsecond fold line, and converging fold lines are formed in said foldableweb and said second wall panel extending from the ends of said out linegenerally towards said panel to define deformable edge portions on saidfoldable web and said second wall panel.

13. The carton blank of claim 11 wherein the combined linear extent ofsaid cut line and said third fold line is substantially equal to thelinear extent of said fourth fold line.

1. In a foldable carton having adjacent walls thereof defining a cornerand being joined together by a folded web reversely folded upon itselfand directly integrally connected to each of said walls along arespective fold line, a web lock in said corner for locking said web ina folded state with said adjacent walls being retained in a cornerforming relation, and said web lock includes an opening in one of saidwalls and a portion of the other of said walls is positioned in saidopening.
 2. The foldable carton of claim 1 wherein said folded web drawsthe opening bearing portion of said one wall towards said other wall toretain said other wall portion in said opening.
 3. The foldable cartonof claim 1 wherein said folded web is folded alongside the other of saidwalls, and said web lock further includes hingedly joined togetherportions of said other wall and said folded web positioned in saidopening.
 4. The foldable carton of claim 1 wherein said folded web isfolded alongside the other of said walls, and said web lock furtherincludes hingedly joined together portions of said other wall and saidfolded web positioned in said opening, said folded web drawing theopening bearing portion of said one wall towards said other wall toretain said other wall portion in said opening.
 5. The foldable cartonof claim 1 wherein said walls are hinged to a common panel and have freeedges remote from said panel, and said web lock is in the form of anotch in said one wall adjacent its free edge at said corner, said onewall slopes from said panel to said free edge generally towards theadjacent edge of said other wall, and said portion of said other wallprojecting into said notch is adjacent its free edge.
 6. The foldablecarton of claim 5 wherein the edge portion of said other wall betweensaid edge portion projecting into said notch and said panel is deformedby engagement thereof with said one wall.
 7. The foldable carton ofclaim 6 wherein deformation of said deformed edge portion is facilitatedby a cut line and a fold line formed in said other wall.
 8. In afoldable carton having adjacent walls thereof defining a corner andbeing joined together by a folded web, a web lock in said corner forlocking said web in a folded state with said adjacent walls beingretained in a corner forming relation, said walls being hinged to acommon panel and having free edges remote from said panel, and said weblock including a notch in one of said walls adjacent its free edge atsaid corner, said one wall sloping from said panel to said free edgegenerally towards the adjacent edge of the other of said walls, saidfolded web being disposed alongside said other wall, and joined togetheredge portions of said other wall and said folded web adjacent the freeedge of said other wall projecting into said notch.
 9. The foldablecarton of claim 8 wherein the joined tOgether edge portions of saidother wall and said folded web between said edge portions projectinginto said notch and said panel are deformed by engagement thereof withsaid one wall.
 10. The foldable carton of claim 9 wherein deformation ofsaid deformed edge portions is facilitated by cut lines and fold linesformed in said other wall and said folded web.
 11. In a blank for afoldable carton, a foldable corner forming portion including a panel,first and second wall panels connected to said panel along adjacentedges thereof along first and second fold lines, and a foldable webdisposed at a corner of said panel and connected to adjacent edges ofsaid first and second wall panels along third and fourth fold lines, adiagonal fold line in said foldable web extending from said panelcorner, said third fold line being a direct continuation of said secondfold line, said fourth fold line being an angled extension of said firstfold line and sloping towards said second panel to form projectingfolded edge portions on said foldable web and said second wall panelwhen said blank is folded to form a carton, and said third fold lineterminating in a cut line defining notch means in said first wall panelfor receiving the projecting folded edge portions.
 12. The carton blankof claim 11 wherein a cut line is formed in said foldable web and saidsecond wall panel generally parallel to said second fold line, andconverging fold lines are formed in said foldable web and said secondwall panel extending from the ends of said cut line generally towardssaid panel to define deformable edge portions on said foldable web andsaid second wall panel.
 13. The carton blank of claim 11 wherein thecombined linear extent of said cut line and said third fold line issubstantially equal to the linear extent of said fourth fold line.